Michigan Golf Course Association announces 2025 awards

2025 AWARD WINNERS: Michigan Golf Course Association announces awards

LANSING – Barry Owens, the CEO of Treetops Resort in Gaylord, and Bill Johnson, the CEO of Gull Lake View Golf Resort in Augusta, headline the 2025 award winners announced today by the Michigan Golf Course Association (MGCA).

The Scott Family, pioneering developers and owners of Gull Lake View for more than 60 years, and Jason Pearsall of Revive Golf Management, who serves as managing partner of Warren Valley Golf Course, are also among the distinguished winners who will be honored and celebrated at the annual MGCA Awards Banquet on Tuesday evening, December 2, during the 2025 Michigan Golf Business Conference and Vendor Fair at the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort in Mount Pleasant.

“We are excited to honor award winners who have left an indelible mark and exemplified the spirit of servant leadership in the Michigan golf industry,” said Jada Paisley, executive director of the MGCA.

Barry Owens will receive the Matthews Lifetime Achievement Award. The award is presented to an individual or organization that has provided steadfast leadership, outstanding service and continued commitment to the Michigan golf industry throughout his or her lifetime.

His achievements and contributions to Michigan’s golf and tourism industries are extensive. In addition to his role as CEO of Treetops Resort, he has held influential leadership positions at the Gaylord Tourism Bureau and the Michigan Travel Commission, always championing statewide growth, collaboration and impact.

An example of his visionary leadership is America’s Summer Golf Capital (ASGC). He helped establish and maintain the marketing partnership, uniting competing resorts and courses to elevate Northern Michigan’s world-class golf scene to a premier national brand.

Bill Johnson will receive the Lyle Leeke Distinguished Service Award. The award is presented to individuals who have demonstrated distinguished service to the MGCA and the golf industry in the state of Michigan.

Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a commitment to the broader golf community that extends beyond his professional responsibilities at Gull Lake View. He has served as a trustee of the MGCA Educational Support Foundation for the past seven years, providing insight, mentorship and leadership on the Foundation’s direction and initiatives.

Johnson also serves as a board member of Discover Kalamazoo, further promoting tourism and visibility of Michigan’s golf destinations.

The Scott family receives the Award of Merit. The award is given for outstanding leadership, perseverance and business acumen in the Michigan golf industry. It was presented by the MGCA only ten times in 27 years.

The Scott family has been committed to golf in Michigan since Darl and Letha Scott broke ground on Gull Lake View’s first golf course in 1962. Today, Gull Lake View is a premier golf destination to stay and play. Southwest Michigan’s idyllic Lake District provides the backdrop for the resort’s championship golf courses, each of which has received a Golf Digest rating of 4.5 stars or higher.

The family has also served as leaders in their community and in the Michigan Golf Course Association. In 1996, they founded the Scott Family Educational Support Foundation to provide training, education and professional development to golf course owners and operators. They also organized and sponsored the MGCA’s annual golf outing to assist with fundraising for the ESF.

Jason Pearsall receives the Outstanding Leadership Award. The award recognizes individuals who demonstrate exceptional leadership qualities in the golf industry, such as inspiring teams, promoting inclusivity, improving operations, enhancing customer experiences and contributing to workforce development.

Pearsall is recognized as a visionary leader in the industry and his recent work with the revitalizing Warren Valley Golf Course demonstrates his leadership style. He maintains an open-door policy and promotes transparent communication to create an environment of trust where team members feel empowered to contribute their best ideas. Pearsall is also the CEO and founder of Club Caddie.